← Back to Patent Explorer
EP0926724A2 Expired / Lapsed EP ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Patterning of porous silicon using silicon carbide mask

Assignee: Texas Instruments Inc
•
Filing: 1998-12-11
•
Granted: —
•
Expires: 2018-12-11
📄 Original PDF 🌐 Google Patents 🔄 Sync Now

Abstract

Abstract A method of selectively forming porous silicon regions (106) in a silicon substrate (100). A masking layer (104) of SiC is deposited by PECVD over the substrate (100) using an organosilicon precursor gas such as trimethylsilane, silane/methane, or tetramethylsilane at a temperature between 200 - 500°C. The masking layer (104) of SiC is then patterned and etched to expose the region of the substrate (100) where porous silicon is desired. An anodization process is performed to convert a region of the substrate to porous silicon (106). The SiC masking layer (104) withstands the HF electrolyte of the anodization process with little to no degradation.

Inventors

  • 👤 Leland S. Swanson
  • 👤 Douglas A. Prinslow

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction EP
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-05 01:41
CPC Classifications
H; H10; H10W; H10W10/00; H10P; H10P50/00; H10P50/69; H10P50/691; H10P50/692; H10W10/01; H10W10/011; H10W10/012; H10W10/10; H10W10/13; H10D; H10D62/00; H10D62/80; H10D62/83; H10D62/832; H10D62/8325

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim 116 words
A method of fabricating a porous silicon region in a substrate having a isolation region formed therein, comprising the steps of: patterning and etching said isolation region to expose a first area of said substrate; depositing, by plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition using an organosilicon precursor gas, a layer of silicon carbide over said substrate including said first area, said depositing step occurring at a temperature in the range of 200-500°C; patterning and etching said silicon carbide layer to expose a second area of said substrate within said first area; and forming a porous silicon region in said first area using an HF electrolyte, wherein said silicon carbide layer protects said transistor from the HF electrolyte.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 21 words
The method of Claim 1, wherein said depositing step comprises depositing by PECUD using an organosilicon precursor gas that comprises trimethylsilane.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 30 words
The method of Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein said step of patterning and etching said isolation region forms angled sidewalls having a slope substantially on the order of 45°.
Claim 4
Independent Claim 32 words
The method of any preceding claim, wherein said step of depositing a silicon carbide layer comprises depositing a silicon carbide layer having a thickness in the range of 1000 - 5000 Å.
Claim 5
Independent Claim 64 words
The method of any preceding claim, further comprising performing said step of depositing said silicon carbide layer using following processing parameters: a carrier gas supplied at a pressure on the order of 4 Torr and a gas flow in the range of 500-5000 sccm, and a RF power density on the order of 2W/cm 2 at a frequency on the order of 13.56 MHz.
Claim 6
Independent Claim 68 words
The method of any Claims 1 to 5, wherein said step of patterning and etching said silicon carbide layer comprises the step of etching in chlorine with a chamber pressure on the order of 300 mTorr, a gas flow in the range of 10-50 sccm, and a RF power density in the range of 0.5 - 1 W/cm 2 at a frequency on the order of 13.56 MHz
Claim 7
Independent Claim 91 words
The method of any of Claims 1 to 5, wherein said step of patterning and etching said silicon carbide layer comprises the step of etching in CF 4 /O 2 /H 2 with a chamber pressure on the order of 10 - 50 mTorr, a gas flow for H 2 in the range of 0-20 sccm and for fluorinated oxygen in the range of 10 - 50 sccm, and a RF power density in the range of 0.5 - 1 W/cm 2 at a frequency on the order of 13.56 MHZ.
Claim 8
Independent Claim 91 words
The method of any of Claims 1 to 5, wherein said step of patterning and etching said silicon carbide layer comprises the step of etching in SF 6 /O 2 /H 2 with a chamber pressure on the order of 10 - 50 mTorr, a gas flow for H 2 in the range of 0-20 sccm and for fluorinated oxygen in the range of 10 - 50 sccm, and a RF power density in the range of 0.5 - 1 W/cm 2 at a frequency on the order of 13.56 MHZ.
Claim 9
Independent Claim 92 words
The method of any Claims 1 to 5, wherein said step of patterning and etching said silicon carbide layer comprises the step of etching in CHF 3 /CF 4 /Ar/O 2 /H 2 with a chamber pressure on the order of 10 - 50 mTorr, a gas flow for H 2 in the range of 0-100 sccm and for fluorinated argon in the range of 50 - 200 sccm, and a RF power density in the range of 0.5 - 1 W/cm 2 at a frequency on the order of 13.56 MHZ.
Claim 10
Independent Claim 35 words
The method of any preceding claim, wherein said step of forming said porous silicon region comprises anodization in a HF electrolyte and a current density in the range of 30 - 100 mA/cm 2 .
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 30 words
A substrate having a porous silicon region formed in an isolation region thereof, said porous silicon region being formed according to the method of any of Claims 1 to 10.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 34 words
A semiconductor device comprising a substrate having a porous silicon region formed in an isolation region thereof, said porous silicon region being formed according to the method of any of Claims 1 to 10.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

No citation records indexed.

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Maintenance schedule is calculated for granted US utility patents.

Assigned Categories & Tags

No categories assigned to this patent yet.

Assign Category Tag